Turn your love of books into cash
From selling ‘book purses’ to hosting author events to posting book reviews, these women turned their passion for books into businesses. Learn their secrets so you can start earning too
“I make $85,000 a year selling book purses!”
“I used to homeschool my kids at a time when people were throwing away books after reading them. I knew there had to be a way to repurpose all the books we acquired. I then read an art project book about ways to use recycled books, which included turning a book into a purse. And I thought, I could do that but make real purses that women could use.
“I found handles and buttons on Etsy and at local craft-supply stores. I sourced the books from Amazon and Barnes & Noble, where I have a corporate account and get a teacher’s discount. After some experimentation, my final product had a handle, a snap and elastic closure and a fashionable button. I started by selling the purses at festivals, fairs and craft shows, and in 2008, I signed up for an Etsy account, purchased a $25 light box to take photos of the purses and created the listings for my shop, Novel Creations (Etsy.com/shop/NovelCreations).
“I make the purses by hand— I’ve made over 18,000! I offer customization with favorite books, different handles and buttons and removable chain holders. I’ve even had publishers order them for their authors. The purses cost between $48 and $65. Last year I made $85,000—money that pays the bills.”